diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c8a9796a71..08318220ac 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ migrate:
 	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py migrate
 	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py migrate --run-syncdb
 	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py check
-	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py makemessages
-	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py compilemessages
 
 # Collect static files into the correct locations
 static:
@@ -41,6 +39,11 @@ postgresql:
 	apt-get install postgresql postgresql-contrib libpq-dev
 	pip3 install psycopg2
 
+# Update translation files
+translate:
+	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py makemessages
+	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py compilemessages
+
 # Run PEP style checks against source code
 style:
 	flake8 InvenTree
@@ -69,4 +72,4 @@ backup:
 	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py dbbackup
 	cd InvenTree && python3 manage.py mediabackup
 
-.PHONY: clean migrate superuser install mysql postgresql static style test coverage docreqs docs backup update
\ No newline at end of file
+.PHONY: clean migrate superuser install mysql postgresql translate static style test coverage docreqs docs backup update
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/start.rst b/docs/start.rst
index 18bef1bbbd..f45c3a8d14 100644
--- a/docs/start.rst
+++ b/docs/start.rst
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ To install InvenTree you will need the following system components installed:
 * python3
 * python3-pip (pip3)
 * make
-* gettext
+
+Each of these programs need to be installed (e.g. using apt or similar) before running the ``make install`` script.
 
 Installation
 ------------
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ Other shorthand functions are provided for the development and testing process:
 * ``make migrate`` - Perform database migrations
 * ``make mysql`` - Install packages required for MySQL database backend
 * ``make postgresql`` - Install packages required for PostgreSQL database backend
+* ``make translate`` - Compile language translation files (requires gettext system package)
 * ``make backup`` - Backup database tables and media files
 * ``make test`` - Run all unit tests
 * ``make coverage`` - Run all unit tests and generate code coverage report
diff --git a/docs/translate.rst b/docs/translate.rst
index e81ecef7f8..3c2ad0d5f4 100644
--- a/docs/translate.rst
+++ b/docs/translate.rst
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ InvenTree supports multi-language translation using the `Django Translation Fram
 
 Translation strings are located in the `InvenTree/locales/` directory, and translation files can be easily added here.
 
-To set the default language, change the `langauge` setting in the `config.yaml` settings file.
\ No newline at end of file
+To set the default language, change the `langauge` setting in the `config.yaml` settings file.
+
+To recompile the translation files (after adding new translation strings), run the command ``make translate`` from the root directory.